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Being broke and being in love aren’t a match made in heaven. We know, because we’ve been there. We’ve had times when we’ve left home with a light pocket and the struggle of finding a cafe that won’t look like a slice of living hell with rusty fans and three-legged chairs.

With a little bit of research {and hounding our stingiest friends}, we found cafes and bars that should set you two back by close to INR 1,000 for two, but still guarantee a lot of pretty pictures {and good times}.

Pick from these options and bring the joy back into inexpensive dates.

Cafeteria & Co.

Dates are nothing if you and your SO aren’t holding hands, teary-eyed, waiting for the damn waiter to bring you your food. We kid, of course. Cafeteria & Co. finds their USP in serving up their delish food in a jiffy. The master chefs in their kitchen whip up amazing dishes, each one better than the other. So, if the wallet’s looking thin, this place’s hexizzas and pastas shall cater to your inner foodie’s every whim.

Morello’s/Jugmug Thela

These two gems in Champa Gali keep calling us back for everytime we’re craving an insane sugar fix or just want a good cup of tea without being in a closed, typical cafe setting. Share a freakshake and bagel at Morello’s, or sit across Jugmug’s wooden benches and keep those bad jokes coming over Vietnamese Iced Coffee and granny cakes. You two can also channel your inner hipsters and eat panini sandwiches.

PS: You know, some dates are amazing just because you’re drinking chai and sitting outdoors.

Taj CCD

Coffee dates don’t get any better than those at Taj CCD. With its al fresco seating plan, your favourite cappuccinos and frappés, and a zappy vibe, this coffee haven makes for the best place to get your caffeine overdose and the overdue one-on-one with bae. If you’re lucky, you might find someone strumming their guitar and making it even more romantic {that someone can be you, too}.

736 A.D.

If you’re wise, you’ll invest in their INR 90 for a pint {or potent LIITs} and stick to Chinjabi {chilli chicken for the win!}. They’ve got outdoor seating, and we’d suggest you try their hookah and sizzler. If you and bae stay close to Vijay Nagar, you’d have heard of this place for sure. It gets packed on the weekends and the Peri Peri Pizza is a crowd favourite.

Triveni Terrace Cafe

This is our favourite all-weather spot and its location helps as much as its ambience. The poha and cold coffee are a delight and the meat-eating partner almost always orders shaami kebab. We’d say, drop by on a cold evening for pakoras and stay back to enjoy their new dinner menu. We hear good things about the Parwal Kebab and Mutton Keema Chops.

Tales & Spirits

In the heart of the city, Tales & Spirits is a recent addition to the hangout scene. You can aim for this to be your next date spot, since they’ve got beer buckets starting at as low as INR 459 for 6 pints and delicious pizzas to devour. The place has a rustic ambience and has the usual chill music playing.

Rose Cafe

All day breakfast, delicious food, and stunning interiors – Rose Cafe is impossible to ignore when it comes to picking a date night spot. You won’t find booze here, but you’ll find the next best thing – affordable food with decor you can fill up that Insta feed with. They’ve also got a vegan menu you can go to town on.